Can we please talk about Male Circumcision?

It seems to be an undeniable truth that whenever there is a thread about, well anything to do with the inustices that women face in the world, it will usually turn back into a conversation about the injustices that men face in the world, one of them being male circumcision.

I get the impression that those coming on here saying "well what about male circumcision" in that lovely WATM way actually believe that feminists either a) invented male circumcision or b) approve of it.

So, just for the record and so that in future we can direct any further derailings to this can we state categorically once and for all each of our individual positions on Male Circumcision.

I disagree with it completely for children unless for medical reasons as a last resort. If someone wants to get it done as an adult, then that is their choice, unless there is a lot of social pressure around it. If there is that pressure, then I have issues with that too.

i cannot, for the life of me, understand why any parent would want to mutilate the genitals of any of their babies, male or female, for so-called 'cultural' reasons. Unless there is a medical need it's just horrible.

DS had to see a doctor in Spain when he was 13 months old, was diagnosed with Bronchitis, but the paediatrician (private) did a full examination.

He advised us that DS's foreskin was too tight, had the doctors at home mentioned anything? No, advice in UK is to leave alone. Doctor explained that leaving alone would result in a circumcision being necessary. He prescribed a cream to be massaged in for 4weeks prior to our next trip to Spain. This was done, then the doctor "whipped" it back painlessly. Continuing treatment just to gently draw back daily, which DS used to do for himself in the bath.

His cousin (now 7) was prescribed the same treatment by the same doctor this summer although he was slightly concerned it is a little late.

and not that pretend to be any kind of authority, but there's obviously a huge difference between a relatively minor op for young boys that will have little or no impact on their later ability to enjoy sex, and the horrendous life-long pain that girls suffering female circumcision will have to endure.